LR Defender production to end in 2015. Sad day or not?
Discussion
Land Rover Defender production is to end in 2015. Will this be a sad day or do you not really care? I've never really seen the appeal because I'm more into performance and handling. In every objective measure, it's hopelessly outdated as a modern car but now I kind of want one! It certainly looks iconic and is unparalleled for the price off the road. For some as well, I expect it will be irreplaceable. I can't see Land Rover launching a replacement which won't have "lifestyle vehicle" mentioned somewhere in the marketing and I can't see this washing with farmers. Other Land Rover models are too posh and expensive to be workhorses.
What will replace the Defender in the countryside or will farmers just keep their old ones? The closest vehicle I can think of is the Jeep Wrangler but I can't see that catching on in the British countryside and it's not as practical as the Defender. Also it doesn't have the British heritage of the Defender, which I think is part of the appeal. North American farmers have their Ford/Dodge/Chevrolet pickups but too big for the roads here! The only substitute I can think of is a 4WD Nissan/Toyota/Mitsubishi pickup. So what vehicle do you think will take the place of the Defender in the British countryside landscape?
What will replace the Defender in the countryside or will farmers just keep their old ones? The closest vehicle I can think of is the Jeep Wrangler but I can't see that catching on in the British countryside and it's not as practical as the Defender. Also it doesn't have the British heritage of the Defender, which I think is part of the appeal. North American farmers have their Ford/Dodge/Chevrolet pickups but too big for the roads here! The only substitute I can think of is a 4WD Nissan/Toyota/Mitsubishi pickup. So what vehicle do you think will take the place of the Defender in the British countryside landscape?
I used to do a job that needed severe off roading; the 110s were the best.
My wife passed her driving test in a Defender pick up.
We owned a 57 plate 110xs for a year; stupidly unreliable, needed Waxoyling but still rusted, eye watering running costs. But they do they do get under your skin and you forgive them time and time again. There's nothing quite like a Defender.
My wife passed her driving test in a Defender pick up.
We owned a 57 plate 110xs for a year; stupidly unreliable, needed Waxoyling but still rusted, eye watering running costs. But they do they do get under your skin and you forgive them time and time again. There's nothing quite like a Defender.
The Japanese double-cabs have a big chunk of the countryside market anyway.
If there is a replacement Defender then LR need to either make a bargain priced rival for the doublecabs or go heavy duty and create something the colonials would buy in preference to a Land Cruiser 70-series.
If there is a replacement Defender then LR need to either make a bargain priced rival for the doublecabs or go heavy duty and create something the colonials would buy in preference to a Land Cruiser 70-series.
Might of been good 30years ago...
Hopelessly outdated for today.
I drove brand new one last week for four days...bloody awfull.
Stiff clutch
No arm room to steer the bloody thing
No leg room
Gearbox needed arms like Charles atlas
Brakes absolutely dreadful..no feel at all.
Noisy
Cold
Steamed up all the time
Door seals leaked
Seat didn't go back far enough
Steering wheel huge
No air bags
Steering wheel actually didn't feel connected to the wheels!
Cheap old school stereo
Maybe all-right to potter around a muddy field but take one of these things near the road is an absolute nightmare!!
God knows how much they are new?...but can't help thinking there's better machinery out there?
Just my ten pence worth, a 60,s machine that has been tarted up for the 21st century....time for a re think by LR I think?
Hopelessly outdated for today.
I drove brand new one last week for four days...bloody awfull.
Stiff clutch
No arm room to steer the bloody thing
No leg room
Gearbox needed arms like Charles atlas
Brakes absolutely dreadful..no feel at all.
Noisy
Cold
Steamed up all the time
Door seals leaked
Seat didn't go back far enough
Steering wheel huge
No air bags
Steering wheel actually didn't feel connected to the wheels!
Cheap old school stereo
Maybe all-right to potter around a muddy field but take one of these things near the road is an absolute nightmare!!
God knows how much they are new?...but can't help thinking there's better machinery out there?
Just my ten pence worth, a 60,s machine that has been tarted up for the 21st century....time for a re think by LR I think?
I once owned a 1964 SWB petrol station wagon I picked up for £850 in 1987, it did about 9 to a gallon, and if you steered left it went right, but I loved it. Sold it a year later for more than what I paid for it.
I'd love a new one, classic timeless design...I can't understand why they are still not reliable though...they've been making them long enough.......
I'd love a new one, classic timeless design...I can't understand why they are still not reliable though...they've been making them long enough.......
I personally think its had its day, yes I agree that it's the last word of the British country side but in this day and age it's lack of safety is what killed it off. It's also a major reason they cannot be sold in the u.s
From what I heard it will still be available in 'kit' form from 2015 onwards
From what I heard it will still be available in 'kit' form from 2015 onwards
ChrisRS6 said:
Maybe all-right to potter around a muddy field but take one of these things near the road is an absolute nightmare!!
Really depends what you're used to and what you're expecting. I will happily do 85mph on a motorway in a Defender, I have done for hours going down and coming back up from Wales in my Dads TD5 110. I think they're great vehicles and have some distinct advantages over the Japanese pickups in some areas. Specifically full time 4WD and beam axles with coil springs instead of independent front and leaf sprung rear which is useless offroad. Never mind their adaptability. You could buy a 110 station wagon and convert it in to a tipper, then convert it in to a van, and then to a pickup, the conversions could be done with off the shelf parts which can be unbolted/ rivets drilled out.
There is also the huge availability of aftermarket modifications, suspension kits, underbody guards, roll cages, winch bumpers... You name it someone makes it for the Defender.
Parts are also much cheaper and more widely available then for the Japanese trucks.
They are great vehicles if you understand their purpose.
P I Staker said:
ChrisRS6 said:
Maybe all-right to potter around a muddy field but take one of these things near the road is an absolute nightmare!!
Really depends what you're used to and what you're expecting. I will happily do 85mph on a motorway in a Defender, I have done for hours going down and coming back up from Wales in my Dads TD5 110. I think they're great vehicles and have some distinct advantages over the Japanese pickups in some areas. Specifically full time 4WD and beam axles with coil springs instead of independent front and leaf sprung rear which is useless offroad. Never mind their adaptability. You could buy a 110 station wagon and convert it in to a tipper, then convert it in to a van, and then to a pickup, the conversions could be done with off the shelf parts which can be unbolted/ rivets drilled out.
There is also the huge availability of aftermarket modifications, suspension kits, underbody guards, roll cages, winch bumpers... You name it someone makes it for the Defender.
Parts are also much cheaper and more widely available then for the Japanese trucks.
They are great vehicles if you understand their purpose.
.
So you haven't heard about Toyota?
The 60 series,
the 70 series,
The 80 series
All have beam axles.
All have reliability, some thing Land Rover has never had, nor ever will have.
vette
It's probably the incredible aftermarket for the Landies that kept them going in the sense of people actually wanting to buy one, because they can really be turned into whatever you want them to be.
If not for this fact, they have been outclassed decades ago.
I have had two Landies - no, make that three - and the early Series stuff has a vintage feel that is very likeable, simply because driving them well is an achievement, the mechanicality of driving is on the surface and felt through every control, whereas with any modern vehicle it is buried under a pile of wool.
But the 90s dialled most of this out yet the bad stuff remained, with the exception of engines that actually made these tractors go reasonably well.
I drive a '92 Landcruiser LJ79 LWB and quite frankly it is a far superior vehicle in almost all respects to even a 2013 Landie, again except the engines. So today's Landie was already old hat in 1992.
Time to move on, but I have often wondered -
What will really replace it? Do any really hardcore offroad-capable vehicles still exist? Everything has gone soft, bigtime, including the Landcruiser.
If not for this fact, they have been outclassed decades ago.
I have had two Landies - no, make that three - and the early Series stuff has a vintage feel that is very likeable, simply because driving them well is an achievement, the mechanicality of driving is on the surface and felt through every control, whereas with any modern vehicle it is buried under a pile of wool.
But the 90s dialled most of this out yet the bad stuff remained, with the exception of engines that actually made these tractors go reasonably well.
I drive a '92 Landcruiser LJ79 LWB and quite frankly it is a far superior vehicle in almost all respects to even a 2013 Landie, again except the engines. So today's Landie was already old hat in 1992.
Time to move on, but I have often wondered -
What will really replace it? Do any really hardcore offroad-capable vehicles still exist? Everything has gone soft, bigtime, including the Landcruiser.
It's utter crapness is its greatness.
It will be very sorely missed as it really is the last link to a lost car world where roid warmers, cup holders, assisted everything were the preserve of old people's homes.
But as for what will replace it? Well it's a bit late. They've been being replaced for thirty years.
It will be very sorely missed as it really is the last link to a lost car world where roid warmers, cup holders, assisted everything were the preserve of old people's homes.
But as for what will replace it? Well it's a bit late. They've been being replaced for thirty years.
So much of LR's reputation is based on this vehicle they really need to make a direct workhorse replacement- multiple body styles including the aforementioned crew cab and sell at a competitive price and give the RR crowd the associated off road capability glow.
Farmers still love them (if they haven't converted to a Japanese pickup)..
Farmers still love them (if they haven't converted to a Japanese pickup)..
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